This course is designed specifically for advanced placement of students who have been selected by special criteria to exempt the first year of the nursing program. It itroduces the advanced placement student to the framework of the program of study and provides the foundation for professional nursing practice in the promotion and maintenance of health, prevention of illness, and care of patients/clients experiencing alterations in physiological and psychobiological health.  The application fo the nursing process and concepts of holistic care, transcultural nursing, critical thinking, basic human needs, psychosocial needs, growth and development, legal/ethical issues, pharmacological principles, therapeutic interventions, and communication skills are emphasized.  The role of the professional nurse is introduced and expanded to include patient/family education and collaboration with paients, families, the interdisciplinary team, and community agencies.  Selected content, including pharmacological principles and math calculations is presented.  This course includes classroom, clinical practice, clinical lab simulations and skills lab experiences.  This course is offered in the first semester of the bridge track.

To successfully complete this course the student must:

Professionalism/Professional Nurse
1. Demonstrate the role of the nurse as a provider and manager of care and a member within the discipline of nursing.
2. Demonstrate professional behaviors as a member within the discipline of nursing.
3. Utilize constructive criticism to improve performance.
4. Relate the conceptual framework to patient care.

Effective Nursing Care
1. Utilize the nursing process to provide holistic care for clients/patients experiencing pathophysiological and psychobiological alterations.
2. Prioritize therapeutic interventions for basic human needs of clients/patients across the health illness continuum experiencing pathophysiological and psychobiological alterations.
3. Begin to think critically when providing safe, effective nursing care.
4. A. Utilize communication techniques in the provision of care with patients/clients with pathophysiological and psychobiological alterations and with members of the health care team.
B. Utilize the principles of teaching and learning into the provision of care.
C. Utilize technology appropriately in patient/client care delivery.
5. Utilize pharmacological principles in the delivery of patient/client care.


6. Utilize principles of community based nursing in the delivery of holistic care.

Management of Care
1. Organize own time and resources in the management of care for one to two patients/clients.
2. Utilize the concept of delegation in the provision of care.
3. Utilize beginning leadership techniques in the coordination of patient/client care.

Legal/Ethical
1. Apply the impact of legal and ethical principles in the delivery of nursing care.
2. Consistently demonstrate legal/ethical behaviors with instructors, peers, staff, and patients.

None Specified

PROFESSIONALISM/PROFESSIONAL NURSE
Introduction to nursing and professional behaviors
• Critical Thinking
• Roles of the nurse
• Communicator
• Effective Communication
• Sensory Stimulation
• Documentation
• Medical Terminology
• Educator
• Patient Teaching
• Advocate
• Manager of care
• Provider of Care
• Leader
• Researcher
• Member within the discipline

EFFECTIVE NURSING CARE: Physiological/Psychological Integrity
Nursing Process
• Assessment
• Diagnosis
• Planning
• Implementing
• Evaluating
• Documenting, Reporting, and Conferring

Physical Assessment

Fundamental Concepts
• Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs
• Health Illness Continuum
• Holistic Being
• Individual, family and community
• Growth & Development
• Spirituality
• Culture & Ethnicity
• Sexuality

Pharmacological Principles
• Drug Classifications
• Medication Administration
• Dosage Calculation

Physiological Integrity  
• Sleep
• Sensory/Pain
• Perioperative

Safety
• Prevention of immobility complications
• Asepsis/infection control

Psychosocial/Sensory Integrity
• Loss & Grief
• Palliative Care/End of Life Care
• Stress/Adaptation/ Anxiety
• Therapeutic Communication
• Psychosocial aspects of illness
• Difficult patient
• Visual/Auditory impairments
• Chemical Impairment
• Cognitive Disorders

Alterations in the Immune System
• Cancer
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Joint
• HIV
• Immunosuppressant drugs
• Infectious Disease
• Skin Disorders
Health Promotion
• Men’s Health
• Women’s Health
• Special Populations
• Patient Education


Alterations in Movement and Coordination
• Neuro dysfunction
• Altered levels of consciousness
• Increased intracranial pressure
• Seizures
• CVA
• Degenerative joint disease
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis

Medication Administration
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anticonvulsants
• Antineoplastics
• Cardiovascular
• Respiratory
• Diabetic
• IV Therapy
• Gastrointestinal
• Renal
• Anti-viral
• Hematology
• ENT
• Immunosuppressants

Alterations in Ingestion, Digestion and Absorption, Elimination
• Nutrition/Diet Therapy
• GERD
• Ulcers
• Inflammatory bowel, ostomies
• Gallbladder problems
• Pancreatitis
• Hepatitis
• Renal Failure-acute, chronic
• UT Infections
• UT Obstruction
• Electrolyte & Acid /Base Balance

Alterations in Oxygenation: Ventilation
Upper and Lower, Restrictive and Obstructive
• Emphysema
• Pulmonary Embolus
• Pneumonia
• TB
• Bronchitis

Alterations in Oxygenation: Circulation
Peripheral and central
• PVD
• HTN
• Atherosclerosis
• MI
• CHF
• Inflammatory processes
• Valves
• Hemoglobinopathies
• Coagulopathies

Alterations in Regulatory Mechanisms
• Endocrine
• Diabetes
MANAGEMENT OF CARE
• Leadership
• Management
• Teamwork
• Prioritization
• Delegation

     LEGAL/ETHICAL
• Guidelines for Nursing Practice

1. COURSE GRADE
• Students must meet all the course and clinical objectives and requirements of NURS 1926 to pass the course.
• A final grade of “C” (75%) or above in unit and comprehensive exams, satisfactory performance on standardized achievement tests, and satisfactory clinical and laboratory evaluations are required to pass NURS 1926.
• An unsatisfactory clinical or laboratory evaluation for NURS 1926 results in course failure with a grade of “D”.

2. DEPARTMENTAL ASSESSMENT
• This course will be assessed at the end of each semester that it is offered, and as needed throughout the year. Students will complete course, facility, and instructor evaluations, and results will be considered in making course revisions. All learning activities will be evaluated to assess their adequacy in helping students to meet course objectives. Faculty generated exam questions will be analyzed by course faculty using item analysis and modified as needed. Results of standardized testing will be evaluated. Recommendations for changes will be proposed to the Program Council (Nursing Curriculum Committee). Proposed recommendations will be implemented the next time the course is offered.